Champ Bailey arrived in Denver in March 2004, and has — save for a few injuries here and there — been a stalwart at left cornerback ever since. In eight seasons, Bailey has missed only 15 total games, including seven in 2008 and three early last season.

As I wrote a story about Bailey’s focus for 2012 for today’s Denver Post[1], I couldn’t help but wonder how many other cornerbacks have started for the Broncos since Bailey arrived. The answer? FIFTEEN other cornerbacks have started a game for the Broncos in that span. That includes guys who have filled in for Bailey when he’s been injured, and players who have earned a start as a “nickel” when the team has opened a game with three corners. The list includes Kelly Herndon (16 starts in 2004), Willie Middlebrook (2 starts in 2004), Lenny Walls (4 starts in 2004-2005), Darrent Williams (23 starts in 2005-2006), Domonique Foxworth (7 starts in 2005 and split time at corner and safety in 2006); Dre Bly (32 starts in 2007-2008), Karl Paymah (5 starts in 2007-2008), Joshua Bell (5 starts in 2008), Tony Carter (1 start in 2009), Ty Law (2 starts in 2009), Andre Goodman (40 starts from 2009-2011), Perrish Cox (9 starts in 2010), Cassius Vaughn (3 starts in 2011), Chris Harris (4 starts in 2011) and Jonathan Wilhite (4 starts in 2011).

Phew.

As you can see, finding a right cornerback and a consistent nickel corner has been a very difficult process for the Broncos.

It’s quite a challenge to find a guy good enough to line up opposite Bailey — the type of player who scares opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers enough that they dare throw against Bailey, who even at age 34, remains one of the league’s elite cover cornerbacks, not to mention one of the best tacklers at his position.

The best of that bunch I listed above was Darrent Williams, who helped Bailey have two of his best seasons in 2005 and 2006. Bailey had 18 interceptions in those two years. Williams was murdered on Jan. 1, 2007 in arguably the most tragic incident in team history.

Andre Goodman started 40 games at right corner over the last three years but was released this spring. The Broncos signed 26-year-old Tracy Porter and are hoping that Porter will be an upgrade.

“My goal is to stop them from throwing to my side, just like Champ’s is to stop them from throwing to the other side. They’ll have to find another way to get it to the receivers – that’s the goal,” Porter said. “If I wasn’t up for that challenge, knowing that Champ is on the other side, I could have easily signed somewhere else.”

So, I ask you, Broncos fans, what are your expectations for Porter? Do you think he’s an upgrade over Goodman? What is your interception prediction for the Broncos’ secondary this year?